Language Production

Question 1

What are the components of Speech Act Theory?

Answer 1

Question 2

What are indirect speech acts? Give an example.

Answer 2

speech acts where the intended meaning does not correspond to the literal meaning of the sentence (e.g., “can you smoke elsewhere?”)

Question 3

What are the 3 components of a metaphor?

Answer 3

1. the tenor (topic of metaphor)
2. the vehicle (what is asserted about the topic), and
3. the ground (what is generally being implied)

Question 4

Describe pragmatic theory of figurative language comprehension

Answer 4

We comprehend figurative language by considering the literal meaning, then rejecting it

it has been disproven by research

Question 5

Describe conceptual metaphor theory of figurative language comprehension

Answer 5

metaphors are not creative expressions, they are the underlying nature of our thought processes

is supported –> explains instances in which we automatically access figurative meaning

Question 6

Describe class inclusion theory of figurative language comprehension

Answer 6

metaphors are class inclusion statements: the topic is ascribed to a superordinate ad hoc category (e.g. university is hell → hell = unpleasant, painful, damnation, eternal, etc)

is supported –> connects studies of figurative language with lexical comprehension

Question 7

What are the five big classes of speech acts based on their illocutionary force?

Answer 7

assertives, directives, commissives, expressives, and declaratives

Question 8

What essential feature of communication differs between naming statements and questions (Tomasello, 2023)?

Answer 8

the intentions and assumptions

Question 9

Describe the Action Prediction Theory of Communicative Function (APC Model, Tomasello, 2023)

Answer 9

neural processing for naming situations recruits semantics-related brain regions involved in lexical- semantic processing, and for requests it recruits the ToM network and motor cortex

Question 10

What is the difference between serial and instant/parallel speech act processing models (Tomasello, 2023)?

Answer 10

the former state that speech act processing happens in the order of phonological -> lexical -> pragmatic information. The latter state that the various components are all processed simultaneously

Question 11

What is the pragmatic prediction potential (N600)? (Tomasello, 2023)

Answer 11

An ERP component that is sensitive to pragmatic information prior to speech onset when naming or requesting an object

(N600 is more responsive to requests than to naming)

Question 12

Does research support parallel or serial speech act processing models? (Tomasello, 2023)

Answer 12

parallel models

Question 13

Research findings support the APC model - ____ vs ____ activate ____ brain regions (Tomasello, 2023)

Answer 13

requesting, naming, different

Question 14

Van Ackeren et al. (2012) investigate the validity of embodied theories of language. What is meant by these theories?

Answer 14

understanding the meaning of words and utterances engages the same systems we use to perceive and interact with the physical world

Question 15

Which perhaps unexpected brain regions are activated by indirect requests and why?

Answer 15

the ToM region because IRs require infering one’s mental state to guess what they mean, and the motor cortex is activated in response to predicting the need for action

Question 16

What entails shallow language processing?

Answer 16

Sentence meaning is derived from an integration of salient contextual information, easily accessible grammatical cues, and lexical meaning

Question 17

According to speech act theory, what allows us to capture the speaker’s intention?

Answer 17

the illocutionary act

Question 18

In his study, Hotgraves (2008) examined whether implicit speech acts are automatically or effortfully understood. What did he demonstrate in his series of 4 experiments?

Answer 18

implicit speech acts are understood automatically & without requiring context, both by the observer and the speaker

Question 19

What does the P200 indicate (Holtgraves & Robinson, 2020)?

Answer 19

it is an early indicator of attention-related processes

Question 20

What does the P600 indicate (Holtgraves & Robinson, 2020)?

Answer 20

it reflects reanalysis or integration processes

Question 21

What are dispreferred turn markers (Holtgraves & Robinson, 2020)?

Answer 21

linguistic cues that support the intended indirect meaning & indicate that the present contribution is the opposite of what would be ideally expected in a cooperative interaction

Question 22

How do emojis influence the accuracy and RT in interpreting indirect replies (Holtgraves & Robinson, 2020)?

Answer 22

responses are faster & more accurate for opinions & disclosures but NOT for request refusals

Question 23

Why do emojis not facilitate the indirect interpretation of request refusals (Holtgraves & Robinson, 2020)?

Answer 23

Because request refusals are not ambiguous and don’t require additional clarification

Question 24

What are assertive speech acts?

Answer 24

When the speaker is trying to convince the listener

done by criticising, explaining, or replying

Question 25

what are directive speech acts?

Answer 25

when the speaker urges the listener to perform an action

done by asking, requesting, or commanding

Question 26

what are commissive speech acts?

Answer 26

When the speaker commits themselves to carrying out an action

done by promising or threatening

Question 27

what are expressive speech acts?

Answer 27

when the speaker expresses their mental state

done by swearing, praising, or blaming

Question 28

what are declarative speech acts?

Answer 28

when the speaker makes the content of the declaration true

done by naming or declaring